I'll never forget the morning when I walked into the bathroom to find my five-year-old daughter asking, "Mommy, what's this?"

She was supposed to be brushing her teeth. Instead, in her little closed fist was a Trojan condom, still smartly packaged in gold, glittering in the morning light. Talk about having a moment ...

Prior to this, my sex supplies— condoms, birth control pills, vibrator — were stashed on the highest shelf in our bathroom, above the deodorant, aloe vera and Band-Aids. But after that wayward condom jumped off its shelf and landed on the floor, I transferred everything to the hallway closet, up high and behind the sheets. So far, so good.

Having your own personal space is a huge issue for single moms. It can be a challenge to keep your private life under wraps. "I was just thinking the other day that I'd better find a more secure locale," says single mom Susan, who blogs at "One-Woman Show." "My kids aren't snoopers, but still ... " Susan adds. "I've been keeping things in my nightstand. I know, how cliche. And probably stupid."

 

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In search of a solution, I contacted sex educator Jamye Waxman, author of the book "Getting Off: A Woman's Guide to Masturbation." "You can always get your own toy box," says Waxman. "It comes with its very own lock and key, and it's pretty. It can slide easily under your bed, on the top of your closet, or even in your bathroom." What will they think of next? I was about to find out. "The Hide Your Vibe pillow is another option," says Waxman.

Waxman does not recommend hiding your sex toys between your mattress and box spring, because they might break or crack when your child is jumping on the bed. Of course, you could always go for the "inconspicuous shoe box," Waxman adds. "Most children aren't that interested in finding your shoes in the first place."

With any luck, you will never catch your kids playing with something that, uh, they shouldn't. But what if you do? "Try to act matter of fact if your kids stumble upon something you wish they hadn't," says Leah Klungness, PhD, author of "The Complete Single Mother: Reassuring Answers to Your Most Challenging Concerns." "If you act upset, defensive, or unglued, kids immediately sense they've found something worth a second look."

"Explaining sex toys to kids is obviously inappropriate," adds Klungness. "If all else fails, suggest a snack or offer to play outside for a while. Divert their attention and take charge of a new activity."

For some single moms, however, their kids are not the problem. "I'm not as worried about my kids finding my toys as I am about my mom [finding them]," says single mom Elissa, who blogs at MommaLiss.

Elissa, who describes her mom as "so helpful but disturbingly old-fashioned," is also anxious that her mom might find her birth control because "in her world not being married means I most certainly wouldn't need such a thing!"

"Your birth control is really not your mom's business," explains Waxman. "But if she questions you, then you should tell her that you're a grown woman and this is all about responsibility."

Has a member of your family ever found a condom or sex toy? How did you react?